Tribute

Rita Lillian Robertson, 94, of Salt Spring Island, passed away peacefully at Greenwoods Eldercare on June 22, 2025. Born on August 25, 1930 at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Rita grew up in a loving family. Her father Harry Wheeler was a ship’s carpenter and tugboat captain who worked for the Gulf of Georgia Towing Company. Her mother Gertrude Wheeler was a full-time mother and homemaker. Sister Donna was five years her junior and brother Alan ten years her junior. Rita was a wonderful older sister and inseparable companion to her cousin Ruthie, who lived nearby. Rita had a rich connection to the city. She was a true Vancouverite.

After finishing her years at Templeton High School in 1948, Rita continued her studies at secretarial school. In 1950 she set off with a girlfriend by train to Hamilton, Ontario, where she worked for a year at Westinghouse Electric. She then returned to B.C. and applied for a secretarial job at F. Drexel Co., an industrial supply firm. A handsome young rogue, spying her in the front office, phoned down to his office manager. “Hire this one, Dunc,” he said. And Dunc did. An office romance followed and on Christmas Day 1951, in front of her entire family, the love of her life, Alan Robertson, proposed to his “sweet Reet.”

Rita and Alan were married at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Kitsilano on May 15, 1952. Alan’s work soon took them north to Prince George, and there they began their new life together. They returned to Vancouver in 1954 with their firstborn, Christine, and subsequently had two more children, Gordon and Kathleen. Rita created a loving home life for her family and a welcome place for the neighbourhood children to gather. She loved children. She loved sewing clothes for her kids, including grad dresses and wedding dresses for her daughters. In 1962 the family moved to West Vancouver, where Rita volunteered as a Girl Guide leader and as a member of the St. Stephen’s Anglican Altar Guild. When her children flew the nest, Rita took a job with Dundarave Bakery, eventually advancing to position of manager.

Upon Alan’s retirement in 1990, he and Rita moved to Salt Spring Island where they were warmly embraced by the parish of All Saints by-the-Sea Anglican Church. Here, Rita’s spirit of giving blossomed. From day one she was a vital member of the All Saints’ Altar Guild. She was a weekly auxiliary “Tea Lady” for Lady Minto Hospital’s Extended Care for over thirty years. For many years both Rita and Alan volunteered as drivers for the Meals on Wheels program. Together they joined the Salt Spring Island Scottish Country Dance Club. For several years, Rita coordinated the registrations for participants far and wide when the club hosted their biannual Spring Fling. Of all things Scottish, Rita and Alan were champions! They warmly welcomed friends to their annual Robbie Burns party, with Rita making a host of Scottish delicacies to share. Rita was an integral part of the Ometepe fair trade coffee organization, and an active member of the Trail and Nature Club. If ever a group needed someone to take on a task, Rita’s hand went up! She was devoted to her dear friends on Salt Spring Island. For many years she enjoyed socializing with a group of Chemainus theatre-goers, Remembrance Day soup lunches, Tea Team sandwich-making, and quilting with friends.

Rita and Alan enjoyed retirement on Salt Spring and beyond. Their adventurous spirits and curiosity about the world led them to take many wonderful trips: Britain, Europe, Cuba, Mexico, the US, and across Canada. As for vacations with their kids, they typically headed to the great outdoors for memorable camping trips each summer. Rita and Alan had their camping systems finely tuned and made it seem easy.

For the past four years, Rita found a home and a place of incredible love at Greenwoods Eldercare. In May of 2021, she and Alan moved there as both of their needs warranted. Sadly, Rita’s beloved Alan passed away in April of 2022. A love of more than 70 years transcends loss, and Rita managed to handle his passing by keeping him very much alive and present in her mind and in her heart. Rita maintained a positive, happy, calm and relaxed presence in Greenwoods that brought joy to the aides and nurses, to the team of Salt Spring Embrace, and to her visitors. Thank you to all the staff at Greenwoods who treated Rita as if she was their own mother, with tremendous respect, focused attention, and great love. Thank you to Brandy and her dedicated Salt Spring Embrace team of caregivers for loving Mom and bringing their special brand of tender care to her on a daily basis. Special thanks to Marjie and Brock Radford, who for many years loved not only Rita but her entire family in tangible and non-tangible ways.

Our lives are richer for having known Rita Robertson and having shared in her joy and love of life. She is predeceased by her husband, Gordon Alan Robertson; her mother, Gertrude Evelyn Wheeler; her father, Harry James Wheeler; her sister, Donna Arlene Garvin; her cousin and best friend, Ruth Evelyn Wenn; her grandson, David Edmond Hall; and her great-granddaughter, Mila Kate Russell. This wonderful sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother is survived by her brother Alan Wheeler (Diane); daughter Christine Hall (Ron); son Gordon Robertson; daughter Kathleen Stockner (Todd); grandchildren Alexander Hall (Andria), Kimberley Hall, Stephanie Schollen (Erin), Hannah Stockner, Simon Stockner, Nathalie Robertson; and great-grandchildren Isla Hall, Miranda Schollen, Noah Hall, John Schollen, Liam Russell and Penn Robertson.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints by-the-Sea Anglican Church on Saturday, August 23 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Greenwoods Eldercare Society in Rita’s memory.